Trabzonspor stuns Galatasaray in Istanbul

Trabzonspor crushed Galatasaray 3-0 in Istanbul during the 10th week of the Spor Toto Super League on Nov. 22, in its first test under new coach Ersun Yanal.

The loss at home further increased pressure on Galatasaray coach Cesare Prandelli, whose decision to use Dutch star Wesley Sneijder as a substitute against Trabzonspor was severely criticized by supporters and pundits.

After the game, Prandelli said that Sneijder was tired and had a minor injury, and that was why he was left out of the starting 11.

Spectators booed Prandelli and called for his resignation after Trabzonspor’s second goal came in the 76th minute from Carl Medjani, who also scored his team’s first goal in the 58th.

Winger Yusuf Erdoğan declared the result of the game four minutes before the final whistle.

It was the first win for Trabzonspor in Istanbul against one of the “Big Three” clubs since March 4, 2012, when Trabzonspor beat Beşiktaş 2-1.

Coach Yanal praised his side, while adding that the team still had room for improvement.

“Football is a process, we are at the very beginning of the job,” he told a post-match press conference. “We should bring back the football passion to Trabzon and make it lasting. We have the squad for that, I trust in my team and we should be in the race for the title.”

Following the victory, Trabzonspor climbed up to fifth position in the standings, having now collected 15 points this season.

In Nov. 22’s other games, Istanbul Başakşehir won 2-0 at Çaykur Rizespor, while Akhisar Belediye and Mersin İdamnyurdu shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw.

League leader Fenerbahçe will be visiting Bursaspor tonight.